Area Restaurants Thank Veterans With Free Meals

Throughout the state Monday there were parades and wreath-laying ceremonies to honor the veterans who have passed away. For the living there were free meals at several local restaurants.

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Fire Ice restaurant was one of several to offer free meals to vets on Veterans Day.

Credit Flo Jonic / RIPR

Fire and Ice Restaurant at Providence Place Mall has been serving up free meals to veterans on Veterans Day for the past three years. This year, they expanded the freebie to include immediate family members as well. Restaurant manager Brian Ahlquist said it’s their way of saying thanks to those who have served out country in uniform.

"This isn’t a promotion to try to bring in business. We’re giving entire families free dinner. That’s not a high profit move. It really is a sincere thank you to the veterans and so yeah, I think it would be great if a lot more people did it," said Ahlquist.

Doug Audette of Woonsocket, an Army veteran, took advantage of the deal.

"I’ve never taken advantage of a free lunch for any reason and we saw it online and said ‘why not?’ What do you think of them doing it? Oh it’s quite a good gesture. It’s a reward that I think is long past due," said Audette.

Fire and Ice served up about 200 free meals per day in the two-day promotion.

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